Vegetable cleaning machine



l s. OLSON Jan. 19, 1943. WGETABLE' CLEANING MACHINE 2 Sheng-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1941 v Z/ezof Jan., 19, 1943. s. oLsoN VEGETABL CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNITED,STATES PATENT OFFICE VEGETABLE CLEANING MACHINE Samuel Qlson, Chicagmlll.

Application August 18, 1941, Serial No. 407,309

' (ci. 14a-202) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for cleansing fruits or vegetables, especially those of the type which grow in the ground, such as potatoes, and which therefore have a considerable quantity of earth clinging to them which must be removed to render them attractive for market.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine for removing the dirt from the vegetables without bruising them or otherwise injuring the surfaces thereof.

Another object is to provide a rotary cleaning chamber in which substantially the entire inner surface of the chamber consists of the `yielding bristles of rotary brushes, which are thus kept in constant motion for scrubbing and polishing the surfaces of the vegetables in the chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for polishing the cleansed surfaces and eliminating excess moisture therefrom.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a cleansing chamber having a portion of its interior surface lined With resilient material onto Which the vegetables are initially delivered, and which avoids bruising them upon impact incident to such delivery.

The invention thus consists in certain features and elements of construction in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is principally a vertical sectional view of a machine embodying this invention, but with the upper portion including a driving motor shown in side elevation.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine showing the driving means for rotating drum or tumbling barrel and also the driving means for the rotary brushes thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially as indicated at line 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged detail sectional views of the bearings for the rotary brushes together with adjacent structure.

The machine embodying this invention is in the nature of a hollow drum mounted for rotation upon a slightly inclined axis so that vege tables may be fed into the upper end of the drum and will gravitate toward the lower end for delivery therefrom after the cleaning and p polishing operations have been performed in the which the vegetables may be delivered by hand or from a chute or conveyor, not shown, in any convenient manner., Extending through the cylinder I and also through the remainder of the machine there is shown a feed pipe 3 for water or other cleansing liquid, said'pipe being tted with discharge spray nozzles 4 disposed at convenient intervals within the drum.

Adjoining the cylindrical section I, the second section of the drum is a perforated metallic cylinder 5 of somewhat larger diameter than the section I so as to encompass a series of cylindrical brushes 6 which are journaled parallel to the axis of the drum and in a circular series at intervals which render the brushes substantially contiguous. The inwardly projecting bristles of the brushes thus form the inner surface of the drum Within the cylinder 5, and this surface is in approximate alignment with the rubber-lined surface of the cylinder I so that the vegetables pass from the upper cylinder to the adjacent lower one Without substantial shock. Adjoining the cylinder 5 is a terminal cylinder I which is also of perforated sheet metal, and which is of such a diameter that its inner surface is substantially aligned with the surface formed by the bristles of the brushes 6, thus allowing the vegetables to roll or slide easily from the brushes onto the perforated section 1, which will provide for a final draining of the moisture from them before they are delivered from the machine.

As a matter of construction, it may be noted that the Aends of the perforated cylinder 5 are secured to rings 8 and 9 of angular cross-section, While additional angular rings I9 and II are attached respectively to the rings 8 and 9 and project in opposite directions for connection with the cylinder I and the cylinder 'I. Bearings I2 for the shafts of the rotary brushes 6 are fixed in the lapping portions of the angular rings.

The drum is supported on a suitable frame I5 in which it is mounted for rotation umn bearing rollers I6, journalled in brackets attached to the frame adjacent its ends. Rotation ofthe drum is eiected by means of a motor I1 mounted on an upper portion of the frame and connected by a suitable gear reduction and drive chain I8 to a cross-shaft I9 having a bevel pinion 20 which meshes with a bevel ring gear 2I secured to the upper end of the cylinder I. vEach of the brushes 6 is provided with a shaft 22 and the upper end of the shaft is fitted with a sprocket 23 disposed outside the end of the main cylinder 5 so that the sprockets 23 are arranged in a circular series encompassing the adjacent portion of the end cylinder I. Y

A sprocket chain 24 is suspended by its ends from the side members of the frame l5 as seen in Figure 2, and forms a track on which the sprocket wheels 23 roll as the drum rotates and with which said wheels mesh so as to positivelydrive the rollers which constitute the lower portion of the drum at any given moment, and which thus support and contact with the vegetables which are passing through it .for cleansing. As the rollers traverse the upper half of their circuit incident to rotation of the drurnthey passV out of mesh with the chain 24 and do not necessarily turn, but during this portion of .theirV travel they are out of contact with the Dvegetables and are hence inactive.

While there is shownv and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and re-arrangements of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described, except Y in so far as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as `my invention: l. A vegetable cleaner comprisinga drum open at both ends, means supporting it for rotation -about an inclined axis, vrotary brushes mounted inside the drum in substantially contiguous rela- :tiontofeaeh other and with their axes extending :parallel to the axis of the drum, and means by which said brushes are rotated all inthe same The perforated Vwall of the A-cylinclerEallows the Water discharged from the sprayV nozzles ilv to escape and carry with it most of the vdirt Vand foreign'imatter removedrfrom the vegetablesby the spray and by 'the abrasive'faction of the brushes 'B .the perforations in the cylinder being large enough `to pass small chunks of Ldirtfor `stems without clogging. This materialfisgcaught 'in ra'troug'hlii whichimay extend undertheentirelength Vof the rotary drum, and which has a discharge conduitt leading irorntheflowes-t portion of the 'trough into Va settlingvitank 27 rmountedjin the'lower portion of the frame i5. `In some situations-the settlingtank may be fdisf ensedwith, but Where it is objectionable Yto :discharge the muddy water directly into the Y sewer, lthe 'tank 21 is provided and includes Va screw conveyor Qzrotatively mounted on an in- Vcline'd axis in a tted trough 29 which Yforms the bottom of thesettling tank. Thusthesolid :matter which accumulatesin the vtank :21 Vand gravitates into the VVtrough V2i) is conveyedwupwardly by the screw-23 and discharged at a special outlet 36 where' it may be caught in'a removlable receptacle and :carted away Vat intervals.

A drain plug" 3l at theflowerend of the trough *29 provides forjoccasonalflushing yof this .equipment. The Water whichaccumulates in-thetank 2'! maybelpumped outv to Via convenient-remote vpoint of discharge byway of an outlet pipe-32, Vand in order to maintain adenite level :Within .the'tank an overflow; pipe -33'is' also iittedptherein,

as seen in Figure l.

With this equipment the vegetables, suchas potatoes, are rst rolled about and agitated within the upper cylinderi in contactwiththe Yresilient lining '2, While the force of'thesprays issuing from nozzles 4 servesito dislodgeimostof the 'dirt'and other foreign matter clinging to them-this material 'being ushed downwardly along the inclined lower surface of the; cylinderil and discharged between the brushes :6 l'and through the perforated wall-of the ycylinder 5.V

Then, as gravity carries lthe vegetables into the brush-lined cylinder 5, they are further scoured vand polished by the rotary action ofthe-brushes 6, fall Yrevolving inthe salme direction -at their upper surfaces which come in contact with the vegetables. At the same time, additional-sprays from the nozzle# directly above Vthe vegetables complete the cleansing of their surfacesand the frictional action of thebrush bristles tends to polish them so that as they are nally discharged linto the perforated terminal cylinder '1 the elimination of any excessive moisture on the surface is al1 that is Vrequiredtocomplete preparation "of lthe product for marketing, or packaging for .shipment,;if desired.

direction@ bythel rotation of the drum on its axis. 2..A ,vegetable cleaner comprising a drum open at both ends, means supporting it for rotation `about an.'inclinedaxis,V a lportion kof saiddrurn being perforated with rotary brushes `mounted inside` said perforated 'portion `in substantially contiguousrelation'to'eachother and with theirV axes extendingparallel to the axis of the/drum, vmeans by which said brushes are'rotated all in the same direction by the rotation of the idrum on its axis, and aspray4 nozzle positioned' inside -the drum to `discharge "a cleansing liquid downwardly thereinY toward the brushes.

3. A vegetable cleanercomprising a drum open 'at both ends, means :supporting said drum forv rotation `about an inclined axis, rotary .brushes mounted inside the drumin substantially contiguous relation to each otherand thus constitutingv y :substantially the entire :supporting surface for upper end :portion ofthe-drum composed of re silient cushioning material,y and rotary brushes mounted inside anadjacent portion of the vdrum in substantially'contiguous relation toe'ach other and With-their axes extending parallel to the axis of-the drum, said :brushes thus Yconstituting substantiallythe entire supporting surface lfor vegetables in that portion 0f the length of the drum and said supporting Vsurface thus formed by the brushes being in approximate alignment-with the resilient surface of the upper. portion of thedrum, and means by Whichrsaid brushes are rotated all in the-same direction bythe rotation of the drum on its axis.

5. A vegetable cleaner comprising a drum open at both ends, means supporting it for rotation about an inclined'axis, the upper portionof said drum being interiorly lined V with resilient material, an intermediate section of the drum enclosing rotarybrushes mounted insubstantially continguous-relation-to eachgother andwith their axes extendingparallelto the axis of the drum,Y

a. spray device supportedinside the drum to discharge a Washing liquid onto the vegetables therein, saiddrum includingfa Alower Aend section be-l yond the portion Whichiencloses the brushes, said Abrush-enclosing portion andY said `end `section being of ,perforatedmaterial forfdraining theiwashing liquid, and means by which the brushes are rotated all in the same direction by the rotation of the drum on its axis.

6. A vegetable cleaner comprising a drum open at both ends, means supporting it for rotation about an inclined axis including an upwardly concave track, rotary brushes mounted inside the drum in substantially contiguous relation to each other and with their axes extending parallel to the axis of the drum, wheels attached to said brushes and positioned to ride on said concave track whereby said Wheels contribute to the support of the drum and are driven to rotate the brushes as the drum rotates on its axis.

7. A vegetable cleaner comprising a drum Open at both ends, means supporting the drum for rotation about an inclined axis, rotary brushes forming a portion of the interior surface of the drum, an upwardly concave track disposed in coaxial relation to the drum, and wheels attached to said brushes and positioned to engage said concave track to drive the brushes as the drum rotates, said track being formed to engage and drive only the wheels at the lower side of the drum.

8. A vegetable cleaner comprising a drum open at both ends, means supporting the drum for rotation about an inclined axis, rotary brushes forming a portion of the interior surface of the drum, an upwardly concave sprocket chain forming a track disposed in co-axial relation to the drum, and sprocket wheels attached 'to said brushes and positioned to mesh with said chain to drive the rollers as the drum rotates, said chain extending to engage and drive only the wheels at the lower side of the drum.

9. A vegetable cleaner comprising a drum open at both ends, means supporting it for rotation about an inclined axis, the upper portion of said drum being interiorly lined with a resilient material, an adjacent section of the drum having openings in its wall with rotary brushes mounted inside the drum in substantially contiguous relation to each `other and with their axes extending parallel to the axis of the drum, means by which said brushes are rotated by the rotation of the drum on its axis, a spray nozzle positioned inside the drum to discharge a cleansing liquid downwardly therein toward the brushes, a drain pan disposed under the perforated portion of the drum to receive the liquid and dirt discharged therefrom, and a settling tank into which said drain pan discharges including an upwardly inclined trough at the bottom of said settling tank with a conveyor in said trough for elevating and separately discharging solid matter which settles therein.

SAMUEL OLSON. 

